Ranger: Low-Friction Exercise Glider with Defined Glide Hardware and Attachments

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a portable and effective device for exercising extremities of individuals who have suffered from debility. The device is comprised of a rectangular base with a similar rectangular extremity support surface attached to said base. The support surface is attached to said base by mechanical glide hardware. The mechanical glide hardware is comprised such that an individual can place their affected extremity on the support surface and move their extremity with minimal or trace muscle power through a linear, rotating, or arc range of motion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a portable and effective device for exercising extremities of individuals who have suffered from debility. The components of the device are comprised such that an individual can place their affected extremity on the device and move their extremity with minimal or trace muscle power through a frictionless or near-frictionless linear, rotating, or arc range of motion. The device may be used to exercise the upper portion of the body including hands, arms, shoulders, and upper torso while in a seated, supine, prone, or side-lying position. Additionally, the device can be used to exercise the lower portion of the body including feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower torso while in a seated, supine, kneeling, or side-lying position.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There is an abundance of exercise devices available on the market today. Whether large or small, the majority of these devices are designed to create a form of resistance for the purpose of strength training. These devices use metal weights, plastic weights, elastic bands, springs, and gravity to create a resistive force in which an individual works against. These devices are useful for individuals who have ample strength in their upper or lower extremities. However, for those individuals who have suffered from some process of disease or dysfunction (ie, stroke, trauma), a device designed to maximize poor muscle strength has not been found in the prior art. In other words, a device that provides a non-resistant form of exercise. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise device comprising a low-profile base of generally rectangular shape.
 2. An exercise device comprising a low-profile base of generally rectangular shape with a non-slip substance underneath. The non-slip surface of said base, in contact with the surface on which it is placed, will prevent the device from moving undesirably during use of the device.
 3. An exercise device comprising a low-profile base of generally rectangular shape with attached mechanical glide hardware.
 4. An exercise device comprising a low-profile support platform of generally rectangular shape attached to said base by said mechanical glide hardware.
 5. Said mechanical glide hardware is engineered to provide a frictionless or near-frictionless glide of said support platform on said base.
 6. Said mechanical glide hardware is engineered with a mechanism to provide either fixed linear gliding of said support platform on said base or linear gliding in combination with rotational glide of said support platform on said base.
 7. Said mechanical glide hardware is engineered with a component to convert from fixed mode to rotational mode or from rotational mode to fixed mode.
 8. Said mechanical glide hardware, in fixed and rotational mode, is engineered to provide additional linear glide of said support platform on top of the rotational component of said mechanical glide hardware. The said additional linear glide of said support platform on top of the rotational component of said mechanical glide hardware will compensate for additional linear movement required of said support platform on said base during arc range of motion of an individuals upper or lower extremity on this claimed exercise device. The said additional linear glide is engineered with a separate component to engage or disengage said additional linear glide.
 9. An exercise device comprising a low-profile support platform of generally rectangular shape to provide a stable surface for the user's extremity to rest. Said support platform will have a non-slip, padded substance on which the user's extremity will rest. The non-slip, padded surface, on which the user's extremity is placed, will prevent the user's extremity from moving undesirably during use of the device.
 10. An exercise device with said low-profile base of generally rectangular shape may include additional attachments to provide increased stability, additional glide, and vertical incline at varying degrees.
 11. An exercise device with said low-profile support platform of generally rectangular shape may include additional attachments to provide handles, cuffs, straps, and molded and contoured positioning and comfort padding. 